Caribbean Citizenship for Families: Full Guide on Who Qualifies and How to Apply

Citizenship by investment programmes are offered by:

1. Antigua and Barbuda.
2. St Kitts and Nevis.
3. St Lucia.
4. Grenada.
5. Dominica.

A foreigner can obtain a Caribbean passport in 4—8 months. The minimum investment amount is $200,000.

Investors get second passports from Caribbean states without traveling there, as the entire process can be completed remotely. The exception is St Kitts and Nevis, where applicants must provide their biometric data and collect their Certificate of Registration in person.

Caribbean citizenship programmes do not require residency, except in Antigua and Barbuda, where applicants must spend at least 30 days within 5 years after obtaining citizenship.

Spouses. All five Caribbean programmes allow spouses to be included, provided they are of the opposite sex and legally married, without additional restrictions.

Minors. Children under 18 are automatically eligible.

Adult children. Caribbean CBI family inclusion rules allow financially dependent children aged 18 to 30 to join the application. In St Kitts and Nevis, the maximum age is 25.

Children with disabilities can be included at any age, regardless of financial dependency.

Siblings. Eligibility varies by country:

• Antigua and Barbuda — allowed at any age if unmarried;
• Grenada — allowed if over 18, unmarried, and without children;
• St Lucia — allowed only if under 18;
• Dominica and St Kitts and Nevis — not allowed.

Parents of the main applicant or their spouse are eligible for inclusion, but age restrictions and financial dependency requirements apply. In Antigua and Barbuda, parents must be over 55 years old, while in Dominica, the minimum age is 65. 

Grenada does not impose an age limit but requires financial dependency. In St Kitts and Nevis and St Lucia parents must be at least 55 years old to qualify. 

Grandparents. Not all countries allow their inclusion. In Antigua and Barbuda, grandparents must be at least 55 years old and financially dependent. Dominica sets the minimum age at 65, while Grenada allows grandparents without an age limit as long as they rely on the investor.

St Kitts and Nevis and St Lucia do not permit grandparents to be included in the application.

The total cost of Caribbean citizenship by investment is not limited to the investment. Applicants also pay government, processing, Due Diligence, application, and other administrative fees, which vary by country, investment option, and family size. As a result, the final cost for a family can be considerably higher than the programme’s minimum investment threshold. 

Antigua and Barbuda

Antigua and Barbuda allows investors to choose between the four investment options^{[1]Source: Antigua and Barbuda — Official Citizenship by Investment Unit}:

1. Non-refundable contribution. A minimum of $230,000 to the National Development Fund for single applicants or families of up to four members.
2. Real estate investment. A minimum of $300,000 in a government-approved real estate project.
3. Donation to a higher education institution. Families of six or more can contribute $260,000 to a local educational facility. The contribution allows 1 year of tuition for one family member.
4. Business investment. A minimum of $1.5 million as a sole investor in an approved business. Alternatively, a group of investors can make a joint investment of $5 million, with each contributing at least $400,000.

Due Diligence fees are $8,500 for the main applicant, $5,000 for the spouse, $2,000 for dependents aged 12 to 17, and $4,000 for those over 18. 

Processing fees total $20,000 for a family of four. For additional dependents, an extra $10,000 applies.

Grenada

The National Transformation Fund provides a straightforward route to citizenship with a $235,000 non-refundable contribution for single applicants^{[2]Source: Grenada — Official Citizenship by Investment Committee}. 

For those seeking a money return, Grenada offers real estate opportunities starting at $270,000, paired with a $50,000 government fee for families of up to four members.

Due Diligence costs $5,000 for each applicant aged 17 and above. 

Dominica

Dominica offers a lower entry point without compromising benefits. Investment options include^{[3]Source: Commonwealth of Dominica — Official Citizenship by Investment Unit}:

1. Non-refundable contribution. Single applicants can contribute $200,000 to the Economic Diversification Fund, while families of up to four need to invest $250,000.
2. Real estate investment. A minimum investment of $200,000 in a government-approved property, plus state fee of $75,000 for single applicants and $100,000 for families of up to four members.

Due Diligence fee for the main applicant is $7,500, while dependants aged 16 and above are vetted for $4,000 each. Processing fee is set at $1,250 for the main applicant and $250 per dependant.

St Kitts and Nevis

The Sustainable Growth Fund is a popular choice, requiring a contribution of $250,000 for a single applicant and for a family of up to four^{[4]Source: St Kitts and Nevis — Official Citizenship Unit}.

For those interested in real estate, the programme offers investments starting at $325,000 in government-approved projects, such as luxury resorts and developments. Alongside the investment, a state fee is $25,000 for the main applicant and $40,000 for a married couple.

The Due Diligence fee is $10,000 for the main applicant, $17,500 for a married couple, and $7,500 for dependants aged 16 and older. 

For families with three or more children, the Public Benefit Option, PBO, in St Kitts and Nevis offers a highly cost-effective option. While the standard contribution for a single applicant and families of up to four is $250,000, families with more children will see additional fees for each dependant, but still benefit from the flexibility and financial savings associated with this programme.

St Lucia

St Lucia offers multiple investment routes to cater to different investor priorities^{[5]Source: St Lucia — Official CBI programme website}.

Investment options include:

1. Non-refundable contribution. $240,000 to the National Economic Fund for a single applicant and for a family of up to four members.
2. Government bonds. An investment of $300,000 in non-interest-bearing government bonds, held for 5 years. A minimum administrative fee is $50,000.
3. Real estate investment. A minimum of $300,000 in a government-approved property, with a state fee of $30,000.
4. Business investment. Applicants can invest in government-approved business projects with a minimum of $3.5 million individually or $1 million as part of a $6 million group. A $50,000 administrative fee applies.
5. Infrastructure project investment. Applicants invest $250,000 in government-approved infrastructure projects in St Lucia, such as ports, bridges, and roads.

The Due Diligence fee for St Lucia is $8,000 for the main applicant and $5,000 for dependents aged 16 and older.

For larger families, citizenship costs can rise quickly as government and Due Diligence fees are charged per applicant. However, some Caribbean programmes offer options that become more cost-effective once several children are included in the application.

Families with three or more children

The Public Benefit Option in St Kitts and Nevis now offers better value for families with several children. Since August 1st, 2026, the $250,000 investment has covered a family of up to four, with government fees included in the amount.

This has brought the option in line with the programme’s non-refundable contribution route and made the overall cost more predictable for larger families.

Families of six or more people

For large families, Antigua and Barbuda offers one of the most cost-efficient citizenship by investment options. Through its higher education route, investors make a non-refundable contribution to an eligible institution. The contribution does not generate investment returns.

The option can be particularly relevant for families applying with adult children, as one family member under 29 is entitled to a 1-year university scholarship. 

The total investment required for this option is $260,000. For a family of six, the processing fees are included in the investment. However, for a family of seven or more, an additional $10,000 is charged for each dependent starting from the seventh.

The Due Diligence fees are the following:

• main applicant — $8,500;
• spouse — $5,000;
• dependent aged 12 to 17 — $2,000;
• dependent over 18 — $4,000.

Also, there is a CIU interview fee of $1,500 per application, and each passport costs $300. A bank commission of $600 applies for the main applicant, $500 per adult dependant, $300 per child aged 12 to 17, and $200 per child under 12.

High approval rates. Over the past decade, more than 40,000 passports have been granted to investors and their families. In 2024 alone, Dominica issued 9,586 passports through its CBI programme^{[6]Source: European Commission — Eastern Caribbean CBI data}, while Grenada granted citizenship to more than 5,400 investors and their family members^{[7]Source: IMA — Grenada Q4 2024 statistics}.

Economic contributions. Funds from these programmes support infrastructure, healthcare, education, and disaster recovery.

In almost every Caribbean country family reunification allows investors to extend citizenship to additional family members after they and their initially included relatives have already been granted citizenship.

For example, if an investor obtains citizenship along with their spouse and child but later decides to include their parents, they can do so without making a new investment, though additional fees apply.

In Antigua and Barbuda, children and parents can be added later, but within 10 years after approval.

In Dominica, most family members can be included later, except for parents and grandparents. The time when dependents may be added to an application is not limited. 

In St Lucia, investors have up to 5 years after obtaining citizenship to add children, a spouse, and other eligible family members, provided they were qualifying dependants at the time the citizen’s original application was submitted. Family members who did not meet the eligibility requirements at that time cannot be added later.

In St Kitts and Nevis, post-citizenship additions are limited to family members whose circumstances change after the main applicant becomes a citizen. This can include a new spouse, children born later, and a parent who reaches the qualifying age afterwards.

A child born while the main application is still being processed may also be added before citizenship is granted. However, dependants who were already eligible but left out of the original application cannot use the post-citizenship addition route.

Caribbean citizenship by investment is not only a lifetime benefit for the investor but can also be passed down to future generations. However, the inheritance rules vary depending on the country and the circumstances of birth.

Dominica — yes. Citizenship can be passed to children, including those born after the investor becomes a citizen, and can continue through future generations.

St Kitts and Nevis — yes. Citizenship is hereditary and can be passed to future generations. Children born after the investor becomes a citizen can also be added through the post-citizenship process.

Antigua and Barbuda — not automatically hereditary. Children born abroad to CBI investors do not automatically become citizens at birth. However, children under 18 are entitled to citizenship through registration: the citizen parent can apply on their behalf.

Grenada — yes, with conditions. An investor’s children can acquire Grenadian citizenship through their Grenadian parent. Grandchildren do not receive it automatically, but eligible adult grandchildren born abroad may apply separately if they meet the legal requirements such as having a Grenadian grandparent, being of good character, intending to serve Grenada, and taking the Oath of Allegiance.

St Lucia — yes, with limits. Children of the main applicant can obtain citizenship by descent, including those born after the investor becomes a citizen. However, this right does not automatically extend to grandchildren or the children of other dependants. If a descendant is born in St Lucia, they acquire citizenship by birth and can then pass it to their own children born abroad.

A Caribbean passport can unlock far more than easier travel. It can widen business options, improve tax efficiency, and provide a reliable Plan B when circumstances change.

1. Visa-free travel to over 140 countries

Caribbean passports offer broad visa-free or visa-on-arrival access, including to the Schengen Area, Hong Kong, and Singapore. Grenada and Dominica also provide visa-free entry to China, while Grenada and Antigua and Barbuda retain visa-free access to the UK.

2. No residency or travel requirements

In most cases, the application process can be completed remotely. The exception is St Kitts and Nevis, where applicants must submit biometrics and collect their Certificate of Registration.

Investors are not required to live in the country. The only exception is Antigua and Barbuda, where new citizens must spend 30 days within the first 5 years. 

3. Financial and tax advantages

Caribbean countries offer favourable tax regimes. None levies inheritance or capital gains tax, while foreign income is exempt or taxed only when locally sourced. Personal income is untaxed in Antigua and Barbuda and St Kitts and Nevis, with further exemptions available across the region depending on the jurisdiction.

4. Business and investment opportunities

Investors can register businesses, open bank accounts, and access international markets. Citizens of St Kitts and Nevis, Grenada, and St Lucia may qualify for multiple-entry US B-1/B-2 visas valid for up to 10 years^{[8]Source: U.S. Department of State: Reciprocity and Civil Documents by Country — St Kitts and Nevis, Grenada, St Lucia}.

Grenada offers an additional advantage: its citizens are eligible to apply for the US E-2 Investor Visa, which allows investors to live in the US while developing and managing a business there.

5. Secure Plan B

A second citizenship can serve as a safe haven in times of political or economic uncertainty, giving investors and their families greater freedom to relocate when circumstances change. It can also preserve mobility when borders close or travel restrictions are introduced. Caribbean countries add to this appeal with political stability, robust legal frameworks, and a secure, peaceful environment.

Immigrant Invest is a licensed investment migration company that has assisted investors and their families with citizenship and residence by investment since 2006. We support clients from programme selection through to obtaining passports and post-citizenship services.

For families applying for Caribbean citizenship by investment, Immigrant Invest provides:

1. Licensed representation. We hold licences for Caribbean citizenship by investment programmes and submits applications through authorised channels.
2. Preliminary Due Diligence. The Compliance Department checks applicants in advance and identifies potential risks before submission.
3. Programme selection. Experts compare countries, investment options, family eligibility, and costs to recommend a suitable route.
4. Document preparation and submission. Lawyers prepare the required documents, arrange translations and legalisation where needed, and submit the application.
5. Investment support. The team assists with completing the chosen investment, including approved real estate where applicable.
6. Post-citizenship support. We can assist with passport renewals, replacements, and other practical matters after citizenship is granted.

Our support helps ensure that dependant eligibility, fees, and document requirements are assessed correctly before the application is submitted.

1. All five Caribbean citizenship by investment programmes allow legally married, opposite-sex spouses to be included in the application without additional restrictions.
2. Most countries permit financially dependent children up to 30 years old, except St Kitts and Nevis, where the limit is 25.
3. Dominica has the strictest age requirement for parents; they must be at least 65. Antigua and Barbuda, St Kitts and Nevis, and St Lucia allow parents over 55. 
4. Grandparents are allowed in Antigua and Barbuda if over 55, in Dominica if over 65, and in Grenada without an age limit.
5. Caribbean CBI citizenship can generally be passed to children, though the rules for grandchildren and future generations vary by country.
6. Antigua and Barbuda allows children and parents to be added within 10 years, while St Lucia allows eligible relatives within 5 years. Dominica permits later additions without time limits, but parents and grandparents cannot be included. Grenada allows only newborn children within 12 months after the investor’s approval. In St Kitts and Nevis, additions are limited to relatives who become eligible after citizenship.